How Often Should You Replace Your Diva Cup

Reusable menstruation products are a slap-up fashion to reduce your personal waste footprint and to save coin. You lot might wonder, how long do menstrual cups concluding? At that place is no exact expiration appointment simply let'due south discuss how to know when it'due south time to say goodbye. These same rules employ to menstrual discs, likewise made from silicone.

How long do menstrual cups final?

Menstrual cups made from medical-grade materials are good for 5-10 years, perchance fifty-fifty longer. This depends on the quality of the materials and how it'southward been stored. Cheaper brands may comprise filler in the silicone, affecting how long they last. Well-nigh users will lose their cups or discs before always seeing them degrade. That's why our retail arm Period.Shop only carries the best brands that we know are going to be a skilful investment.

How can I extend the life of a menstrual cup?

Always store your menstrual cup between cycles in a breathable pouch. Virtually all menstrual cups are sold with a storage pouch. If your cup didn't come with one or information technology was lost the chances you lot have a substitute in your junk drawer are high – it merely needs to exist cotton fiber, linen, or another breathable fabric. Never shop your cup in a sealed plastic container or bag. The cloth needs to breathe and an airtight container may shorten the lifespan of your loving cup. If you accept pets put your loving cup in a drawer or out of achieve – dogs particularly love to chew on cups.

How can I tell when it'south time for a new menstrual cup?

Gummy to the touch on
Chalky or flaky
Abrasions or micro-tears

When the integrity of the silicone or TPE is gone there will be places for bacteria to hide and grow. If y'all meet any signs of degradation or tears discontinue utilise.

Cups will thin out and soften over time, peculiarly if you boil them frequently. This may somewhen affect how it functions and fits for you. Yous may need to replace the loving cup because it'south non working as well as information technology used to for you, more so than it existence unusable due to the breakup of the materials. Y'all can find the best menstrual cup brands at Period.Shop when it's time for your replacement.

If my cup is stained, is it time to supercede it?

No. A stained cup is still usable. Instead of throwing information technology out try a peroxide soak in a 3% solution. Soak information technology for 2-3 hours and lookout man your menstrual cup return to its original color or clear! Visit this guide on how to remove menstrual loving cup stains.

How practise I dispose of my menstrual loving cup?

When it's time to say goodbye to your bestie there are a few options. Menstrual cups are not recyclable for the almost office; DivaCup has a recycling program for their own brand and some places accept menstrual cups fabricated of TPE for recycling (rare.)

Burn down your silicone menstrual loving cup. Cups burn to ash (I've done it!) and so toss it into your side by side bonfire and give your trusted friend a badass ship off. This choice is besides fun for hysterectomy or menopause rituals.
Throw information technology away.

Nosotros have a full guide for How to Dispose of your Menstrual Cup for more ideas.

Your Investment Will Pay Off

In that location is a fair amount of sticker shock when shopping for a new menstrual cup or disc. Catamenia cups boilerplate betwixt $25-forty for a trusted brand. I always tell people that information technology's best to purchase from reputable brands that offer customer service and who employ quality materials. If you lot buy from an Amazon or IG-only brand the chances y'all volition receive support are pretty low once they have your money.

The longer your cup lasts, the better your investment pays off. Some brands and shops offer installment plans (Period.Store proudly offers AfterPay) to brand switching possible.

afterpay installment plan for menstrual cups

For the aforementioned cost of a box of tampons in iv months, you lot can pay for your cup. And then you'll have 5-10 years of a $0 period!

Almost the Writer

Kim Rosas is a leading menstrual loving cup expert and founder of Period Nirvana. Educator and advocate in the reusable menstrual products infinite, Kim has been creating content and educational activity workshops to help people make the switch for well-nigh ten years. Outside of her passion for sustainable menstrual instruction Kim has a honey for The Smashing Pumpkins, creating gifs, The Golden Girls, and making lattes.